The Best Workout Headphones and Earbuds, Tested and Reviewed

Beats are popular among runners and athletes for their excellent sound quality, comfortable fit and fantastic connectivity to iPhones (they feature the same Apple H1 chip found in certain AirPods). Our fitness experts like the Beats Fit Pro in particular, a Good Housekeeping Fitness Awards winner, for their wingtips that help keep the earbuds inside your ears as you move around. We also love that they feature noise cancellation so you can focus on your set of squats.

“I truly have never heard music sound so clear and sharp with in-ear headphones before,” raved one tester. “I also loved the sound cancellation capabilities — as soon as I put them in, the whole world went quiet.” With up to 24 hours of battery life with the carrying case, you shouldn’t have to recharge too frequently. Our Lab experts note, however, that their IP rating is a bit lower than other headphones designed for working out so be mindful to not get stuck under a summer downpour since they’re not 100 percent waterproof.

These over-ear headphones may be relatively cheap compared to other picks on this list, but that doesn't mean that they don't perform. They even made our list of best noise cancelling headphones for their exceptional value. With a claimed battery life of up to 40 hours (or 55 hours with noise cancelling off!) you won't have to recharge frequently. But what our tech experts love most is that they're super lightweight, portable and intuitive to use.

Sound quality isn't quite as impressive as more premium headsets, but they performed moderately well in Lab tests and effectively canceled out outside noise. Sadly, though, these aren't water-resistant and can retain heat so they're best suited for indoor sessions only or lighter training days.

These open-ear headphones from SHOKZ are perfect for anyone who likes to be mindful of their environment when running or working out, whether outdoor or indoors. Because they don’t actually sit inside your ear, audio is delivered through your cheekbones via bone conduction technology so you can both listen to music and listen to your gym buddy. When testing them out ourselves during workouts, we were impressed with their audio quality and found them to be both secure and comfortable.

“I ran outside and indoors on a treadmill and wasn’t scared they would fall out of my ears,” said one tester. Though we do wish that their carrying case was a bit more portable and featured recharging capabilities, the 10 hours of claimed battery life should be sufficient for at least a few outdoor runs.

Though we don’t necessarily think AirPods are the very best headphones for working out, this list wouldn’t be complete without them. Why? Because AirPods are some of the most convenient and versatile headphones out there. Not only do they connect seamlessly to iPhones, but they’re lightweight and feature an impressive battery life combined with their charging case.

We don’t recommend dunking them into a swimming pool, but they are water- and sweat-resistant so you should have no issues taking them on a jog through some light rain. Plus, because they feature noise cancelling you can effectively block out your gym environment (or tune in when you’re on a run and need to hear incoming traffic).

But despite all the reasons to get AirPods, there’s one thing to keep in mind: Their fit may not be as secure or comfortable as other earbuds, meaning that the AirPods could occasionally fall out.

The audio experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute can’t get enough of these over-ear headphones from Sony, a 2024 Family Travel Awards winner. Not only did the XM5 impress our pros in our most recent Lab tests for their pristine sound quality and superior noise cancellation, but we also found them super comfortable to wear no matter the activity.

Though they can trap heat, according to some testers, touch controls were intuitive and responsive — a big pro when you’re holding a weight in one hand but need to pause your music. You’ll get up to 24 hours of claimed battery life so you don’t have to worry about the battery dying on you, just keep in mind that they’re not as easy to transport as super compact earbuds and there’s no IP rating listed.

Though we haven’t yet tested these latest headphones from Bose in the Media & Tech Lab, Bose products have performed exceptionally well in Lab tests over the years and their latest innovations like the QuietComfort Ultra continue to impress us. What sets these headphones apart from existing Bose audio gear is that they feature an open, cuff-like design that reminds us of earrings. Like other open-ear headphones, you’ll be able to listen to your tunes as well as what’s going on around you.

Claimed battery life is solid with the combined carrying case at up to 27 hours total, and you can count on Bose to deliver fantastic sound quality. If, however, you’re not yet sold on an open-ear design and would prefer to have noise cancellation, our pros recommend considering the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II, a GH tester favorite.

Every time our pros have tried on Jabra headphones, we’ve been impressed by just how comfortable and secure they feel. The Elite 8 Active are no exception and should be suitable for a variety of users thanks to three silicone ear tips that are provided. What’s unique about this pair is that it features some of the best claimed battery life you’ll find on the market, i.e., 32 hours with ANC on or a whopping 56 hours with ANC off once combined with their charging case.

On top of noise cancelling capabilities, these are water-, dust- and sweat-proof and designed for the toughest workouts, according to Jabra. They feature the highest IP rating of any headphones on this list, or IP68, which means that they’ve been tested to survive being submerged in up to one meter of water for 30 minutes!

It would be difficult to look any cooler at the gym than with the Beats Solo 3, which feature a sleek, minimalist design. Sadly these aren’t water-resistant so we wouldn’t recommend getting them soaked, but we do think they’ll do a good job of blocking out the hustle and bustle of the gym so you can concentrate on your sets. Unlike other headphones on this list, the Solo 3 are noise isolating, which means that they don’t actually feature any noise cancellation but do effectively block out noise.

Though our pros warn that they can feel tight after extended use for some, that also means that they're super secure and don’t budge. On top of their long battery life, what we love about them is how portable they are for over-ear headphones. The Beats collapse into a compact size and come with a lightweight carrying case that’s perfect for bringing to your workout. Plus, the main control button is both intuitive and easy to use.